Locking system for mail-boxes.



No. 699,597. Patented May 6, I902. J. E. WALSH.

LOCKING SYSTEM FOR MAIL, BOXES.

(Application filed Feb. 10, 1902.)

(llo Model.)

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ll lTED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. WALSH, OF WVASI-IINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

LOCKING SYSTEM FOR MAIL-BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,597, dated May 6, 1902. Application filed February 10,1902. Serial No. 93,346. (No model.)

.ings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in looking systems for receptacles and principally for mail-boxes, and has forits object to provide means whereby a mailcollector or other proper person will be compelled to visit and collect from each receptacle or mail-box on the route in its regular prescribed order, the opening of any one box in the series being dependent upon the previous opening of the boximmediately preceding. In accomplishing this object I provide each mail-box in the route with a lock differing from the lock of any other box in the route and mount the keys of all the locks in a single key-carrier to be retained by the mail-collector duringthe collections and to be left at the post-office between collections, if desired or required. The keys of the key-carrier are mounted to swing from an operative position to an inoperative position, and key-controlled locks are provided to retain the keys in either position, eachof said locks requiring for its operation its own individual key, different from the keys of the remaining locks. The severalkeys to the key carrier are confined within the mailboxes, each in the mail-box preceding the box whose key it controls. By this arrangement when the collector starts out on his route for collecting the mail the key to the first mail-box is in an operative position in the keycarrier for unlocking said mai1- box. Upon opening this box access is had to the key contained therein, which is adapted to be used for the purpose of throwing into operative position the key to the second mail box in the series and at the same time throwing into inoperative position the key to the first mail-box. This operation is continued in regular order until all the mail-boxes have been visited. When the last box is visited, the use of the key therein throws the*key to the first box into operative position for use on the next trip and the key to the last box into inoperative position. It will thus be seen that the carrier must have previously opened the box immediately precedingin ordor that he may open any box in his route, thereby insuring a faithful performance of the duties of his position, which consist in collecting from each and every box in his route in regular order on each trip at approximately the same time and rendering it impossible that any box should be overlooked either by intention or mistake, as if such is the case the collector would be unable to open any box following the one overlooked without first going back to said box.

With the above and other objects in View the invention further consists in the novel de tails of construction and combination of parts, which are clearly set forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of the description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar figures of reference are used to denote similar parts in each of theseveral views, Figure 1 is a perspective View of an open mail-box, exposing to view the key confined therein. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the key-carrier to be retained by the mail-collector. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of thekeycarrier, and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section thereof. I

In the drawings, 1 represents a mail-box of usual construction, except that its lock 2, instead of being similar to all others on the route to which it belongs, as is now generally the case, is different from the others and re quires a special key for its operation unlike the key for any other box on the route.

The several box-keys 3 for operating the locks of the different boxes in a route are mounted in their proper order in the key-carrier 4:, consisting of a securely-covered box or casing, preferably of light metal. Each key 3 is pivoted at a point 5 within one of a series of slots 6 in the end of the box 4 and is also pivoted at a point 7 to the end of a lock-bolt 8, projecting through the slot, while a spring 9 on the end of the box 4: bears against the key in a direction to cause it to lie within the slot 6. 3 A

The bolts 8 are slidingly supported by hooked hangers 10, projecting from one side of the box 4, and each is provided near its rear end with its notch 11 to receive a key. On each bolt 8 is a spring-pressed tumbler l2,

. pivoted to a pin 13, which projects from one of (he hangers 10 and passes through an elongated slot of the bolt to permit said bolt to move longitudinally. Apin 14E on the bolt 8 is adapted to engage on either side of alug 15 on the projection 16 at the rear end of the tumbler, and thus hold the bolt in either its extended position or its retracted position.

From the line of keyholes 17 on top of the box extends a. series of key-guides 18, each leading to an operative notch 11 in one of the bolts 8. \Vhen a proper key is inserted and turned, the tumbler is forced back against the action of its spring until the lug 15 is free of the pin 14, when the bolt is retracted in the manner of the usual sliding bolt-lock, and as the key completes its turn the tumbler again springs forward to engage the pin 14 on the other side of the lug 15. During this movement of bolt 8 the key 3, attached thereto, is swung about its pivot into an op erative position against the action of its spring 9. When the second key is projected in this manner, a pin 20, carried on the tumbler thereof, engages with projection 16 of the preceding tumbler and presses it backward to free its lug 15 of the pin 14, when the spring 9 of this first key forces it into an inoperative position, with its bolt 8 projecting, as at the start.

In order that the last key may be released when the first key is thrown, the projection 16 of the tumbler of the first key is extended rearwardly at 21 and engages with an upward-projecting extension 22 of the last tumbler projection of the last key and affects it in the same manner as the pins 20 do the other tumblers.

A number of key-carrier keys 23 are provided for releasing the box-keys 3, each being diiferent from the others, and these are secured within the letter-boxes, preferably by chaining to the tray, as shown in Fig. 1. The keys 23 are so distributed that the one found at each box releases the key of the next succeeding box.

From the foregoing description the operation of the invention is obvious. The collector receiving his key-carrier on leaving the post-office for his collection with one key only in an operative position, and that key being adapted to open the first box of his route only, on opening the first box he has access to the key 23 by means of which he may release the key to the second box on his route, and so on through the entire number of boxes, it being impossible for him to skip a box, as then he could not open the others. At the completion of the trip the key-carrier is turned in at the post-office, with the first key only projecting ready for the beginning of the next trip.

It will be understood,of course, that various changes in the details of construction of my invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and hence I do not desire to be limited to the exact construction herein shown and described.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a locking system for a series of receptacles, the combination with a portable carrier adapted to hold the keys of said receptacles, of means located at each of said receptacles for releasing'the key to the next receptacle in the series.

2. The combination with a portable carrier adapted to hold the keys of a series of receptacles, of unlocking means located within each of said receptacles for releasing the key to the next succeeding receptacle of the series.

3. In a locking system for a series of receptacles, the combination with portable means adapted to hold the key of each of said receptacles in an inoperative position, of means located within each of said receptacles for releasing the key to the next succeeding receptacle of the series.

4. The combination with a portable carrier for locking the keys of a series of receptacles in an inoperative position, of a key located within each receptacle of the series for releasing the key to the next succeeding receptacle.

5. In a mail-box-locking system the combination with portable means for securing the keys of a series of boxes, of independent locking and unlocking means for each key located within each box of the series for releasing the key to the next succeeding box.

6. In a mail-box-locking system, the combination with a portable carrier for holding the keys for a series of mail-boxes in an inoperative position, of means located at each box for releasing the key to the next box of the series, and means for returning the preceding key of the series to an inoperative position.

7. In a mail-box-locking system, the combination with portable means for holding the keys of a series of boxes, of unlocking means for each key located at each box, and means for locking the preceding key in an inoperative position upon the release of the key to the next box of the series, substantially as set forth.

8. In a mail-box-locking system, the combination with portable means for securing the keys of a series of boxes in an inoperative position, of means located within each box for releasing the key of the next succeeding box of the series, and means for lockingthe preceding key of the series in an inoperative position whereby the entire series of boxes must be opened in their regular order before the first box can again be opened.

9. In a mail-box-locking system, the combination with a key-carrier having a separate key for each box in the system, of means for retaining said keys normally in an inoperative position, and means located at each box for releasing the key of the next succeeding box. I

10. In a mail-box-locking system, the combination with a key-carrier having a separate key for each box in the system, of means for retaining said keys normally in an inoperative position, means located at each box for releasing the key to the next succeeding box, and a connection between each key and the preceding key by which one key is retracted as the other is released.

11. The combination inadevice of the character described, of a key-carrier comprising a casing, a number of keys pivoted therein, a series of key-operated bolts each pivoted to one of the keys, tumblers pivoted in the casing and engaging the bolts, means on each ing and engaging the bolts, a pin, on each tumbler engaging the preceding tumbler and springs bearing on the keys, substantially as described.

In testimonyof all which I have hereunto subscribed my name. I

JOHN E. WALSH. Witnesses:

J QUINCY EATON, E. H. 'PARKINS. 

